Clutch



J. M. CHADWCK.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. 1919.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919..

mf/( NVE/VTOR.

ATTORNEY.

JOHN ivi.V cHADwicH, or DAYTON, OHIO.

CLUTCH.

specification of Letters ferent, .Patented NOV, 1919,

.Application filed January 13, 1919. Serial 110.270,78?.

T 0 all whom #may concern:

Be it known that i, JOHN M. GHADwioH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the countyof Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in clutch mechanism. The object ofthe invention is to provide a clutch mechanism which may be utilized fordriving small machines, suchfor example as sewing machines where aminimum size clutch only may be used as well as larger machines, and inwhich the noise due to the engagement of the parts thereof is whollyeliminated.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 indicates a sectional view of theclutchl on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of theclutch on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a detached view of theball housing or cage.

In a detail description of the invention similar reference charactersyindicate corresponding parts as they appear in the drawin the otherdirection through the clutch' mechanism. rThe said wheel 2 hasan axialcavity or recess 3 which surrounds the open? ing therein through whichthe shaft 1 extends. The inner annular wall 17 surrounding the cavity 3islined with a silencer 1 formed of suitable material to provide anengaging surface of a proper character for theV balls '5 which interlocktherewith to drive the shaft 1. The part 4 is preferablyl made ofhardened steel in order to prevent wear from forming uneven surfacestherein Y which would cause more or less rattling during the rotation oftheclutch. 6 designates a hub which'is rigidly secured to the shaft 1and has a screw-threaded extension 7 on which is screwed a cage 8whichcarries the Y yloalls 5. A preferable way of securing the hub 6tosaid shaft is by means of two or -more'set screws 6. The cage 8 isAscrewed into position against the wall 9 of the hub A6 and the said lhuband the wheel 2 are brought close together by a collar 10 which fitsover the end of the shaft 1 and is made secure thereto by means of ascrew 11. The

ball cage 8 lies wholly' within the` circuin-j ference of the l'steelbushingC hereinbefore referred to as a silencer. lThe ballsv 5 arehoused in a series of projections 12-whicli extend from the periphery ofthe cage 8 and constitute parts thereof. For the purpose of j placingthe balls in these projections and permitting them to engage thesilencer il, each projection 12 has an opening or pocket 13 bored intoit from one side and terminating in a somewhat reduced `diameter at thef inner end 'so' that the balls will be' retained in these pockets oropenings and will not fall out of their positions when the cage isremoved. Coperatingwith each ball 5 is a coil spring 1&1 which extendsinto the openprevent the same from leaving the pocket through theentrance end thereof. lEach of the springs 14- is supported on a vcurvedrod or holder 15 which is secured at one end in thewall of' the adjacentprojection 12. ln

order to provide space for these supporting rodsor holders 15 theportions of the cage 3 between the projections 12 are removed to ings orpockets 13 and engages the ball to l provide spaces 16 in which the rodslie. The

free ends'of the springs are connected kto anti-friction heads 14 whichengage *the balls and offer no resistance to the free movementV thereof.rlhe rods 15 are curved to conform to the annular form of the body ofthe cage and the springs M areexteiided around these rods to-providesuitable supports therefor and to allow a sufficient!y amount of thesprings to project beyond the ends of the rods and into the pockets 13,where they engage the heads 111'. The wheel 2 has a suitable beltYgroove2 through which it is driven from the pedal of the sewing machinewith which the clutch is employed in the present case, and on one sideof this Y groove the body of the wheel is extended to provide thehousing or cavity 3 vwith its surrounding flange for the reception ofthe ball cage when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 2. s s

It will be understood that when the wheel 2 turns in an anti-clockwisedirection, the clutch connects the shaft 1 therewith, and when saidwheels turns in a clockwise direction, the force. applied to the .ballsby the the other-case the said balls areV thrown outv andfrictionallyengage the said bushing.

llo I to a sewin machine in which a small clutch is essentia lyrequired, it Will be understood that it is equally applicable to largerma-l chines.

In av clutch of the character described', a main shaft, a driving Wheelloosely mounted thereon having a cavity on one side and the innerannular circumferential Wallofsaid Y cavity being lined With a silencer,a hubrigidly secured to said shaft, a ball cage mount- Y ed on said huband lying-Within the cavity,

of said Wheel, said ballcage having a series of projections Withopenings extending therein from one side thereof andthe diameters ofwhich are reduced' at the peripheriesY of the projections, a series ofballs inserted Having described my invention, claim: y

1n said openings and exposed throughthe smaller diameters thereof toengage or dis# In testimony whereof I aliix signature. 25 i JOHN M;CHADWICK. y j

20 engage the silencer, a series of rods secured Y

